Strawberries & Salad Greens!: Parents

Volunteer Alicia shows students a strawberry plant (photo: Tim Kauffman)

There are many ways that parents and families got involved in the Strawberries & Salad Greens day on May 23rd!

Join your child for lunch on May 23^rd. It will be a chance for you to see some of the farm-fresh food your child gets at school, and celebrate the spring harvest! Fill out this Parent/Guardian Lunch Form you plan to eat lunch at your child's school, so we'll be sure to have enough meals.
Even if you can’t join your child for lunch at school, make sure that her or she participates in school lunch on Wednesday May 23rd so that he or she can enjoy the fresh, local strawberries and salad greens served with lunch that day. Check your school’s website to see what else is on the menu that day.
Spread the word about the event through word of mouth, your neighborhood email list, or your local newsletter. We've gathered lots of sample outreach materials to help, and ideas for how to use them.

CELEBRATE AT HOME! Here are some ways for you and your family to celebrate some of the wonderful produce available in the spring - download this information in a sample Letter to Parents or Letter to Parents in Spanish.

Visit a community garden - There are many gardens in Washington, DC open for families to visit. Some even have special programs for families, and some allow visitors to bring fresh produce home. Here is a map and listing of community gardens.
Prepare recipes that use local strawberries and/or salad greens – here are some great healthy recipes that range from simple to complex.
Shop at a nearby farmers’ market - Many local farmers sell fresh strawberries and salad greens and other locally-grown produce at farmers’ markets in Washington, DC. Some markets take WIC/EBT. Find market times and locations using the DC Food Finder.
Grow food at home - You can grow your fresh, delicious produce in your home or yard, no matter how much space you have! It’s a fun project for your family and you can save money, too. Here are some tips and hints for starting and maintaining your own garden.
Support restaurants that use local, seasonal foods - There are many restaurants in the Washington, DC area that support local farms and prepare dishes with seasonal foods. Here’s a list of nearby farm-to-table restaurants.
Pick strawberries! Visit one of the many farms in the Washington, DC area where you can pick your own strawberries and other berries berries. (Please visit their websites and call as your visit approaches to check conditions, hours and driving directions.) Here are a few: